Meet The 209 Mph Bentley Continental Supersports, Its Fastest Car Ever

The Detroit Auto Show may be next week, but Bentley is fast out of the gate with its newest model and indeed the world's fastest production four-seater, the Bentley Continental Supersports. Dubbed "the pinnacle grand tourer", the car is the British automaker's latest attempt to coax even more power out of its Continental coupe. With a 209 mph top speed, and a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, it's succeeded.

Those numbers make it the fastest-accelerating Bentley ever, not to mention 0.3 seconds faster to 60 mph than its Continental Supersports Convertible sibling. That's the fastest four-seat drop-top in the world, incidentally, with a 205 mph top speed. Both share the same W12 engine.

That's 6-liters and twin-turbocharged, and pushes out 700 HP at 6,000 rpm, and 750 lb-ft. of torque between 2,050 and 4,500 rpm. It's paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission that supports block-shifting, and a new torque converter uprated to better handle all that power. Like its cousins in the range, there's permanent all-wheel drive, with a typical 40:60 rear-wheel bias.

Those wheels, incidentally, are 21-inch forged alloy, shed in beefy 275/35 ZR2 I rubber. The suspension uses four link double wishbones with self-leveling air suspension and an anti-roll bar at the front, and multi-link, self-leveling air suspension and an anti-roll bar at the back. Bentley borrowed the torque vectoring technology from its Continental GT3-R, upgraded it for the Supersports, and uses it to brake the inside rear wheel on turn-in for faster pivots, and any of the four wheels when accelerating out of corners to keep stability.

Compared to other Continental models, the Supersports has what Bentley describes as "less intrusive" calibration of its stability control. It also has a redesigned exhaust system, to "breathe more freely" as well as mustering some serious sound effects on the downshifts. Carbon ceramic brakes with enhanced cooling are fitted as standard.

Outside, there are new sculpts to the front and rear bumpers, including a carbon-fiber splitter and diffuser, together with new side sill extensions and hood vents in the same lightweight material. Gloss-black is the color of choice for the front wing vents, tailpipes, and other areas, along with dark tint lamps front and rear, and black-finished grilles and other chrome work. An optional rear spoiler and front splitter combination can be fitted, as can an optional, gloss-finished and Supersports-branded carbon-fiber engine cover.

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Inside, there's a tri-tone interior with diamond quilted Alcantara in the seats and door panels and special, checkered Supersports carbon-fiber trim for the dash, if the usual wood and metal aren't to your tastes. A special Supersports wheel and gear-shifter are included too. If you want to go even further, the bespoke team at Mulliner will go to town assuming your budget is big enough.

And the price? Bentley isn't saying yet, with more details promised for later in the year. The Continental Supersports will make its official debut at the North American International Auto Show 2017 in Detroit, which kicks off this weekend.